Inhabitots | Your guide to green parenting, eco baby & green kids

HOW TO: Make Organic Homemade Lemon Ice Cream Sandwiches

by Jennie Lyon, 06/17/13 filed under: baking, cooking, green family, green kids, how-to, recipes

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England’s ‘Play Streets’ Initiative Shuts Down Streets so Kids are Free to Play in their Neighborhood

by Jennifer Chait, 06/17/13 filed under: eco play, green family, green kids

Image courtesy of Shutterstock

An outstanding new initiative called Play Streets has just launched in Reading, a large town in Berkshire, England. Though an ocean away, this locale’s bright idea is something many communities worldwide should try to imitate and implement. The concept behind Play Streets is to close down a street for a set time in order to allow children to play safely on their own street with friends who live nearby (Yep, just like how we used to play in our neighborhoods as kids). For adults, the program offers the added opportunity to get to know their neighbors. A Play Street can be created for up to three hours, on any day of the week, and up to once every fortnight — giving kids some free time without parents having to worry that they’re running around with cars. Inhabitants of residential neighborhoods can fill out an application requesting to participate. Due to the nature of the program, applicants must collect supporting signatures from about two-thirds of all residents who live on the street. The program will be running as a trial for one year, but hopefully Play Streets will be a success and will continue indefinitely. This program is a great way to help increase childhood activity while allowing kids to simply be kids. Wouldn’t you love to see a program like this in your community?

+ Play Streets

5 Green Summer Camps & How to Find an Eco-Minded Summer Camp Near You

by Jennifer Chait, 06/17/13 filed under: green education series, green family, green kids

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6 of the World’s Coolest Green Playgrounds

by Beth Buczynski, 06/16/13 filed under: architecture, eco play, green design, green kids

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CoolKidsNYC’s Edgy Organic Collection Gives Trendy Kids Street Credit

by Sherrell Dorsey, 06/16/13 filed under: eco baby clothing, green baby, green kids, kids clothing

Well-dressed kids aren’t born, they’re styled. And funky organic clothing retailer CoolKidsNYC makes it effortless to outfit kiddos in chic apparel. Your little fashionista can express herself in an offbeat organic pineapple print tee or look snappy in the crocodile tee that’s sure to turn heads. We’re stoked about this kid-friendly organic collection that specializes in unique high-quality threads with a bit of inspiration from the streets of New York City. “We find inspiration in the dynamic style and colorful soul of New York City and its diverse neighborhoods. CoolKidsNYC encourages you to experience the fashion sense of artsy SoHo, the urban Hip Hop of the South Bronx, the swagger of Harlem’s 125th Street, the exclusive glamour and flair of Madison and 5th Avenues, the punk-rock and skater styles of the Lower East Side and the bohemian feel of Brooklyn all under one domain,” the brand boasts on its website.

Check out the collection of stylish organic fashions here.

+ CoolKidsNYC

Eco-Friendly Musical Instruments That Will Delight Tots

by Beth Shea, 06/15/13 filed under: eco play, eco toddler, green baby, green kids, green toys, link roundup

Did you know that early music training benefits your baby’s brain? With that in mind, we’ve rounded up 5 green musical toys for your budding musician! The eco-friendly xylophone pictured above emits such a sweet sound that parents and tots alike will appreciate an enthusiastic jam session. If you like to get crafty with recyclables, then you’re playing our tune. Strum up this guitar using a juice box! This sweet animal themed wooden instrument set is a musical menagerie of fun! It includes an elephant rhythm block, a bunny tambourine and a lion castanet! The tiniest babies can start on a harmonious path with this musical ladybug rattle made from sustainable wood. If your little one’s best doll friend or plush pal wants to join the band, outfit him/her with this adorable hand crafted guitar designed especially for dollies. It’s not a conventional instrument, but we’re totally on board with this awesome toy train that runs along a musical track. And check out what one ingenious mom made for her music loving daughter — a dollhouse inside of a guitar!

Babywearing Daddy Doll Promotes Childcare as a Family Affair

by Jennifer Chait, 06/14/13 filed under: babywearing, eco play, green toys

Gone are the days when mom, and mom alone took care of the baby. Nowadays, REAL men know that dads can help promote breastfeeding, change diapers like a pro, co-sleep like a champ and would never ever dream of referring to taking care of their own tyke as “babysitting.” In some ways, moms still shoulder the bulk of the responsibilities with regard to cleaning house and basic child care, as recent studies indicate. However we’d love to totally even out the parenting playing field and we fully appreciate thoughtfully designed toys that can help us do just that! These adorable Waldorf based knit baby-wearing dolls come in both mama and daddy styles! Made by the amazing Freja Toys, these knit dolls are truly adorable and made with child-safe materials such as 50% wool/50% viscose thread, 100% cotton thread and stuffed with hypo-allergenic toy stuffing. These dolls will let your child know from a young age that both mom and dad can carry and care for a wee babe — a perfect lesson for imaginative kids in the role playing phase. Each of these lovely babywearing dolls comes with both a parent (mom or dad) and a tiny baby in a sling too! Best of all, you will not believe the price. At just $42 a pop it’s almost a crime not to pick one of these dolls up and get your child on a path to parenting equality early on. And of course, these babywearing daddy dolls are also great for families with two proud papas!

+ Freja Dolls $42

+ Freja Toys